Real Madrid beat Manchester City to signing of €30m Spanish prodigy

Real Madrid have beaten Manchester City to the signing of Malaga playmaker Isco in a deal worth around €30m, reports Spanish daily AS.

The Spain international admitted last week that he had offers from both Real and City, with the Premier League runners-up hopeful that Isco’s relationship with new boss Manuel Pellegrini would persuade the 21-year-old to opt for the Etihad.

The playmaker has described the Chilean, who was his manager at Malaga last season, as his ‘footballing father’ but is it now believed the youngster will join Real.

The paper reports that Isco will sign a five-year contract with Real and the transfer will be announced next week, as soon as Carlo Ancelotti is confirmed as Los Blancos new head-coach.

Real’s sporting director Zinedine Zidane reportedly urged president Florentino Perez to accelerate the deal for the forward and it is possible that one Real player will join Sevilla on loan as part of the agreement.

Isco has enjoyed a fine season for Malaga, impressing in both La Liga and the Champions League and finishing the season with 12 goals in all competitions.

The attacking midfielder was also inspiration in guiding Spain under-21s to victory in the European Championship in Israel, scoring three times, although he has already been capped for the senior team.

Watch what Real fans can look forward to, with some of Isco’s best goals and skills.